Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-04-08

''Mrs. Mort threw herself on the ground lc-
fore him, and clasping his knees, besought
him not to do so-not To wake her James, but
10 call again.
"lhis Of course only confirmed the magis
trate's suspicious, and, handing the lady over
to the constable, who locked himself up with
her In the famous drawing room, he went up
stairs, accompanied by me.
The first room we came into was furnished
with n bed, table and a chair. The table
was fitted with writing materials, and cCSered
with pages OF manuscript. A pile Of books
was heaped up in one corner. All the other
rooms were quite empty and, though we IN
stltuted thorough search in all directions,
we were unable to discover any trace OF Mr..
Mort, or of his mortal remains
At last we descended 20 the drawing room.
We found Mrs. Mort at the piano She was
playing the Dead March In SAUL The con
stable tapped his head significantly as he let
us in.
- i ask you for the last time, Mrs. Mort
said the squire very gravel, TO tell me where
your husband is, or what has become Of him
We have searched the house all over, and can
find no trace o. him.
4 tell YOU he's writing his Letters from
her performance on the piano. He's out; YOU
can't see him.
Constable, arrest that woman cried Mr.
Dale. You must excuse me, madam, but |
must do my duty. You will be kept in custO-
dy on suspicion Of murder until we have found
your husband, or until you have accounted for
his absence in satisfactory manner Wilson,
wait here until | send my brousham round.
You will come on in it to the grange. | am
anxious to avoid scandal
oh, cried Mrs. Mort, If it's as serious US
all that had better explain Morris death
"AhW sad the squire. And when and
howp'
Naturally enough, answered Mrs. Mort.
lie died Of serious apopieXy in Paris six
months ago If you will look in the drawer
Of my writing table upstairs you will find the
Gcte d d,c,s from the Paris register Office, "A.
well as the French doctors certificate
The squire ran upstairs, and presently re
turned With the documents in his hand.
" i am glad TO see that we have been mis-
taken, he said, and am very sorry that this
should have occurred But perhaps, madam
you will explain
d" 1 shall explain nothing al ALL snarlcd the
lady. You have no right to ask me- don
blame YOU, but that young imp Of satan who
came here last night Chats you Charlie }
And if you have done bothering perhap.
you'll all get out OF the house
eve retired considerably crcstfalen. bul
greatly relieved at the unexpected donoue
nent Of what We had thought would turn out
tragic affair. But Dale is firmly resolved e
have the woman out of the house in a week.
time. How he viii manage it don't know y
But | cried, lit seems to me as mystcri
Gus as ever. Why should she conceal her bus
bands death, and make people believe he wa;
still living with here What motive can sh,
have badr'
Il fancy" answered my husband, though
mind, it's a mere supposition, that Mrs. Nor
was anxious not to lose the benefit Of her hus
bands popularity as a writer. The name Of
James Mort was worth 10 her a clear E2,OO0
year. As he lived abroad most OF his life
and, consequently, was not known in English
society it was an easy matter to conceal hi,
death. Mrs. Mort had always acted as hi
secretary, was familiar with his style, ideas
and projects, and has doubtless literary ab.lt,
Of her own. Nothing easier, then, for hci
than 10 carry on her husbands work and L
pass oil her own productions as his on his PUB
fishers who only knew him by his writing. She
had probably an ambition 10 satisfy: and be
sides - 600 year is not 10 he dcspised.
am not sorry that she has been found out Il,
the execution Of her plan would, sooner OF
later have got her into trouble
I'm short said Charlie, tour parish mys
terry turns out 10 be simple case Of
TIE wife resigned to heavens will,
Now carries on the business still"
- b gratfl.